99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2015 and 2016
SB2459
 
Introduced 2/9/2016, by Sen. Dave Syverson
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 

 
405 ILCS 5/2-107.4 new

     Amends the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Code.  Provides that the Illinois Supreme Court or any circuit court of this State may adopt rules permitting the use of video conferencing equipment in any hearing concerning the administration of psychotropic medication or electroconvulsive therapy subject to the following conditions: (1) if the parties, including the respondent, and their attorneys, including the State's Attorney, are at a mental health facility, or some other location to which the respondent may be safely and conveniently transported, and the judge and any court personnel are in another location; or (2) if the respondent and his or her attorney are at a mental health facility or some other location to which the respondent may be safely and conveniently transported, and all of the other participants including the judge are in another location, if, and only if, agreed to by the respondent and the respondent's attorney.  Provides that in a hearing concerning the administration of psychotropic medication or electroconvulsive therapy, any court may permit any witness, including a psychiatrist, to testify by video conferencing equipment from any location in the absence of a court rule specifically prohibiting that testimony.
  


LRB099 15920 RLC 40236 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
 
 
A BILL FOR
 

  
SB2459LRB099 15920 RLC 40236 b


  
1    AN ACT concerning health.
  
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3represented in the General Assembly:
  
 
 
4    Section 5. The Mental Health and Developmental 
5Disabilities Code is amended  by adding Section 2-107.4 as 
6follows:
 
7    (405 ILCS 5/2-107.4 new)
8    Sec. 2-107.4. Video conferencing.
9    (a)
The Illinois Supreme Court or any circuit court of this 
10State may adopt rules permitting the use of video conferencing 
11equipment in any hearing under Section 2-107.1 subject to the 
12following conditions:
13        (1) if the parties, including the respondent, and their 
14    attorneys, including the State's Attorney, are at a mental 
15    health facility, or some other location to which the 
16    respondent may be safely and conveniently transported, and 
17    the judge and any court personnel are in another location; 
18    or
19        (2) if the respondent and his or her attorney are at a 
20    mental health facility or some other location to which the 
21    respondent may be safely and conveniently transported, and 
22    all of the other participants including the judge are in 
23    another location, if, and only if, agreed to by the 
 
 
SB2459- 2 -LRB099 15920 RLC 40236 b

1    respondent and the respondent's attorney.
2    (b)  In any hearing under Section 2-107.1, any court may 
3permit any witness, including a psychiatrist, to testify by 
4video conferencing equipment from any location in the absence 
5of a court rule specifically prohibiting that testimony.